Lost in execution and imitation
Was this series supposed to be cheap imitation of Gelboys? Because it does looks so. The only good thing is this drama is that it did captured the whole gist and ideology of GenZ. From being daring to be diff and pursue dream to highlighting that how in today's generation luxury items like Gucci pants and fast life interactions are part of life. This is real based scenario we see commonly with GenZ and GenAplha.What I would say this drama is completely based on the idea of brain rot and GenZ core idea of humour " if it doesn't make sense then it's a good joke". So if you are seeking depth and logic here, u will be highly disappointed.
This drama was supposed to be comedy drama with touch of romance. But the problem is bad execution. The script was very generic plus it lacks any funny or out of box comedic lines so all the burden to make this drama work lands on the actors. But that is also soo bad and cringe. Having loud and exaggerated expressions doesn't make the scene funny. I mean there could be one or two scenes that actually make one laugh or smile but sadly it failed to do so for me. Even if this series was meant to show the journey and issues one face when starting from nothing to giving auditions to have a band and then disband then trying to get up and go on with the dream but the attempt to make it as comedy series didn't let me feel connected to any characters.
Overall, this series logic and execution is even worse than 67 joke in GenZ. So watch only if you want to watch BS or get the feeling of brain rot and if you have an attention span of 30sec insta reel.
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When Great Visuals Can't Save a Weak Script
The acting, cinematography, cast, and overall production are absolutely stunning. The costumes, set designs, and attention to detail really capture the beauty of the period setting, making every scene visually impressive. BillyBabe also delivered strong performances, which was one of the main reasons I decided to watch this series in the first place. I'm also a huge fan of historical and period dramas, so I had high expectations.Unfortunately, the story itself was the biggest disappointment.
The narrative constantly jumps back and forth between different timelines, but instead of building suspense or adding depth, it just makes the plot feel confusing and disconnected. Rather than creating mystery, it often feels like the story is going in circles.
What frustrated me the most was Kaewta's character arc. It feels like he spends almost four entire episodes doing nothing but being confused. There is very little meaningful progression, and the same emotional beats are repeated over and over again. Many scenes are essentially recycled—the only difference is that one version is shown in full while another is shortened or presented from a slightly different perspective. Instead of adding new information, these repeated scenes make the pacing feel unnecessarily slow.
There were so many opportunities to develop the characters, deepen the relationships, or move the plot forward, but the script chose to linger on repetitive moments instead. As a result, the story feels flat despite having such an interesting premise.
It honestly hurts to say this because I genuinely love BillyBabe and wanted this series to succeed. The production quality is excellent, and everyone involved clearly put in a lot of effort. However, beautiful visuals and talented actors can only carry a drama so far. For me, the script and storytelling simply don't do justice to the cast or the incredible production value. The concept had so much potential, but the execution left me disappointed.
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Japanese high schoolers are so scary lol
Although I didn’t click with the new characters yet, I found it pretty interesting to see what was going on inside Oya High School during the big fights in S.W.O.R.D district in the main movies. I loved every moment Murayama appeared and every time the other S.W.O.R.D gangs were mentioned, especially Cobra. I believe every High&Low fan would know that Murayama always gets excited when it comes to Cobra. It was also fun to see Chiharu and Tettsu again.The last episode was my favorite part of the whole series. I quite enjoyed the fight between the two main new characters. I guess I will learn more about them in the next movies.
While I was watching this, I couldn’t help myself from thinking that if I were a parent, I would never send my kids to Oya High school lol. They literally just pick fights all day and don’t study at all.
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Intensely romantic
**Never-Ending Summer** is a deeply emotional romance that blends the longing of *Lighter and Princess* with the intensity of *The Dazzling*. The chemistry between Lu Xixiao and Zhou Wan was unforgettable, and every glance, silence and reunion carried so much emotion.Zhou Keyu made Lu Xixiao a memorable male lead—devoted, protective and vulnerable—while Bao Shang En delivered painfully realistic emotional scenes. The beautiful styling and shift from warm youthful tones to a more mature palette also reflected the characters’ growth.
This drama made me cry, stayed with me and has definitely earned a special place in my heart. Zhou Keyu is also quickly becoming one of my favourite male leads.
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the chemistry is chemistrying literally!!
You guys seriously need to start watching this drama. Personally, I'd give it a 10/10 in every aspect. There isn't a single boring moment, and everything flows so naturally. I fell in love with both leads from the very beginning. The child actors did an incredible job, and the adult leads were just as amazing. Honestly, every single actor delivered a flawless performance.I also loved the directing, and the OSTs are absolutely beautiful! The cinematography and the pacing are excellent, making every episode enjoyable. I'm usually someone who gets bored very quickly, but I never felt bored for even a second while watching this drama.
I actually started watching it because of Zhang Jingyi, since I've been a fan of hers for a long time. But now I've become the biggest fan of Song Weilong as well. 🤍
If you haven't started this drama while it's still airing, you're seriously missing out on all the excitement and the anticipation of waiting for new episodes. 😂 Still, I really hope you all give it a chance soon!
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too simple and feels rushing
Very simple story indeed and also the actors were gud in their part but the story should have evolved more, somethings felt too rushing and storylime should have been more detailed. Very few actors but did good job , you can watch it but only for once. it won't make you feel connected to you as the plot feels like every other stories out there. so yeas you can definitely give a watch but only one time watch it is.there were hardly any musics tho and also there were not much any other representations within the storyWas this review helpful to you?
THE EPITOME OF ABSOLUTE ASS OF A SHOW
Rating: 0/10 (An insult to the medium of television, if I could give zero or less than that this takes the crown 👑 of it all).After consuming countless hours of drama across every conceivable genre, I thought I had grown immune to bad writing. I thought I had seen the absolute rock bottom of televised entertainment. I was wrong. This staggering pile of unmitigated garbage didn't just lower the bar; it buried it in the deepest, most toxic trenches of the internet. May whatever executive greenlit this catastrophic waste of digital tape face immediate, permanent career exile.
So... The Characters are an Ensemble of Braindead Simps and negatives than an absolute value could not turn this shit around.
To call these characters one-dimensional would be an insult to basic geometry. Every single individual on screen behaves with the localized intelligence of a concussed amoeba. The protagonist is an insufferable, spineless caricature whose entire existence revolves around serving as a doormat for the most toxic, unearned subplots imaginable. There is no logic, no self-respect, and absolutely zero cognitive function distributed among this entire cast. Watching them navigate the plot is like watching a slow-motion car crash inside a burning dumpster, except significantly less entertaining. An egg being stationary is a million times entertaining and fun than this
apex level garbage beyond garbage.
What was the PLOT about? Narrative Inbreeding at its Finest.
The script reads like it was generated by a malfunctioning algorithm that was fed nothing but the discarded, radioactive scraps of the worst soap operas in human history. Every conflict is contrived, every resolution is a slap in the face to the audience’s intelligence, and the pacing moves with the agonizing friction of a rusty engine seizing up. The director and writers should genuinely apologize to the concept of storytelling. It is a dizzying display of incompetence where every creative choice feels like a deliberate attack on the viewer's sanity.
Truthfully, torture videos from early internet is is like an massage compared to this unrecyclable biohazard.
I have waded through the absolute depths of internet slop, unrecyclable trash, and media pollution, but this specific disaster stands alone in its sheer, unadulterated worthlessness. It is a black hole of talent, time, and budget.
TL;DR: Do not watch this. Do not click on it. Do not even look at the poster. I completely destroyed my brain cells and suffered through this absolute trainwreck so you don't have to. Avoid it like the plague. You're welcome 😉.
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A DISAPPOINTING PLOT TWIST
According to my judgement, the cast was just a top tier one. But, I would fully blame the screen-writer for this drama not being very few of the best kdramaes. The ending was not something I thought of to get. And there are many loopholes in the total plot like some of the lost unresolved treasure-hunt cases. It has been quiet a suspense thriller mystery series so solving those situations was really needed. The character Ko Miho was really an admirable character but I would have been a little happier if the lead characters had spent a bit more cherished moments.Was this review helpful to you?
Chaos and Hotpots
The drama came out of the gate fast and frenetic, full of zany fun and energy. I thought I had a handle on what to expect—a light-hearted romcom—but the drama kept expanding my expectations. The comedy was served with a side of thoughtfulness, a generous dollop of tragedy, and some delicious revenge for dessert.The Good:
• The action never lagged, because there was always a new twist, character, or situation to figure out. This is a drama that might improve on second watching, because a great deal was thrown at the viewer with explanations, if given at all, only provided indirectly or at a later part of the drama.
• The leads had great chemistry together. It felt as though they were enjoying themselves as much as their intended audience.
• The costumes, sets, and visuals were beautiful.
• The OST enhanced the scenes.
The Bad:
• The crown prince was underutilized. He either needed a larger story arc or a smaller one. I understood his father's attitude toward him, but if he planned on him being his successor, he should have introduced him to the consort early on. The Emperor knew from personal experience the horrific life of a puppet crown prince. How could he, in good conscience, not intervene? Poor little prince. (I do wish they'd used different actors to portray the Crown Prince and the Emperor as a child to lessen confusion. I had to keep trying to figure out which was which in a scene. It didn't help that the Empress Dowager looked the same in both situations. Yes, the drama had a cute intro for the young Emperor's parts which helped, but I'm still going to complain.)
• Could we NOT George RR Martin all my favorite characters?
• I felt a bit let down by the ending.
I was going to rate 8 stars, but it deserves an extra half star for the leads' enjoyable relationship.
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Ai Mi and Hou ming Hao
Guys, you should definitely watch this drama. Some of the tropes in this drama are really unpredictable.And this review is for those people who say that Ai Mi shouldn’t have done this role and that Hou Minghao and Riley Wang are cringe for acting alongside a minor actress. Guys, it was her choice, so stop making such baseless assumptions.
Maybe she wanted to play a lead role at such a young age, and she wouldn’t have taken part in it if she was uncomfortable with it. It must have been her decision, not ours, to decide what she can or cannot do.
Plus, if she didn’t want to do it, her agency would probably have made a statement online.
Honestly, nobody talked about Huangyang Tiantian. She is 19 now, but she also played lead roles at the age of 16. Meanwhile, Ai Mi has just turned 18. (I’m not hating on Ai Mi or Tiantian; I’m just stating a fact.) Yet nobody had a problem with that.
And now some of you are saying not to support the drama. Bruh, she absolutely slayed in portraying the character. I’m a fan of hers, and she’s really talented, so don’t judge her just because she’s young. It’s her life, and she has the right to choose for herself.
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The definition of a mess
This drama was honestly a whole shit show😭. The FL was incredibly frustrating to watch, she was so easy to manipulate, extremely gullible, and seemed to never reflect on her own actions. The whole time I was just wondering why she kept making the same mistakesThe two male leads were honestly not any better... They were both so narcissistic.
Overall, I really did not enjoy this one. Everything about this drama was exhausting to watch. Definitely not for me.
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Wandering off-roads can get you to beautiful places
I never expected to love a drama averaged below 8 the way I did. Is it an objectively great drama? Certainly not. But I loved it.The first episode took me days to finish. And then I binged the next 6 eps as if there was no tomorrow. I only didn't finish it in a week because taking the time to binge at least three eps at once isn't something I can easily afford anymore. But once I started, I couldn't stop.
Many reviews state that this drama derailed from its main plot for a concerning amount of episodes. But I wasn't in it for the main plot anyways, so I loved the derailment. 😁
- The relationships-
The mains' chemistry was so damn good. I wasn't sure if I liked ML's acting, but considering his character is rather reserved, he hit it so well and convinced me during later scenes. FL as an actress was heatedly debated last year with her role in Be Passionately in Love as she doesn't do kisses, but it was perfect the way it was. They went all out on every other way of showing affection the more the relationship progressed. I love when dramas display romantic relationships that don't need burning passion and physical intimacy yet still can be heartfelt.
Everyone apart from the mains was a side character at best, but they played their parts throughout the story and their dynamics with the mains changed over time which means none of them felt like a mere plot device.
- The plot -
The pacing was uneven, the ending not bad but certainly not good either. The whole concept behind the series' mystery started with few hints but was rather predictable as the episodes progressed. The tightly knit strings ended up loosely wrapped together with plotholes the size of one's head. BUT apart from one stupid arc , they included none of the tropes I absolutely despise. The plot was thrilling enough for me to want to find out how it ends. So despite its flaws, it's a win for me.
- The visuals -
Yes, I'm super superficial and my character sucks, but they had so many amazing landscape shots in every episodes, all the buildings outside and inside looked so clean and neat and decluttered.
That certainly helped keeping the focus where it should be, which obviously was the relationship development and mystery plot and not the mains' faces at all.
- The music -
Yeah, this was another example of "we bought five tunes for a 24h drama and we will be playing it the whole time until the viewers will never forget it ever" but the music was actually nice, especially in terms of lyrics, so I forgive them. *adds to playlist
-Final thoughts -
This drama is best to watch when you go in with absolutely no expectations of anything. Don't care about the mains or the mystery plot or the scifi, just roll with it as it changes genres the way others change their socks. But if you want a romance burning with passion and flowers or a mystery that has you on the edge of your seat, it might be time for you to derail from this drama to watch something different.
This is one of the dramas that highly depend on taste and guilty pleasures and I won't blame you if you didn't like it as much as I did. Objectively speaking, this could be a 7 at best, but I loved it, so for me it's a 9 and hence the best drama I finished this year so far.
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A literal life-changing series aka bringing me closer to God ⛪
Yeah, the headline isn't a joke; Ticket to Heaven actually drew me back to Christianity, to my roots. I've been dealing with unfaithfulness for almost 2 years now after losing multiple people in a row. I found comfort in this show that I've never found in any other.Not necessarily because of the story, but because of the way I saw myself in Barth. Like, a lot of times. When he said, „I guess God was busy", I felt that deep in my heart. I've never been understood like this by any show. I cried a lot of times, and day by day while I was waiting for this series, I felt a knot keep untying itself. Such a relief. Maybe these sound like huge words from a usual BL series watcher, however, this is the truth. Not to mention, when Barth started to pray to God and Tanrak saw him, I felt seen because I always pray for my family and friends in need, even though I thought my God wasn't like theirs.
Beside this, the actors are fantastic. I'd even say they are professionals, so impressive! They could portray so many deep feelings in a way that sometimes I felt like I was watching someone's life through a live camera.
The story itself was also written amazingly. It was so interesting the whole time, I couldn't stop watching it! I felt a relief when I realized that it's not the usual fluffy one where the main characters just start to love each other over time, but the one where they have to fight for their love, sometimes inside and outside as well.
Ohh, I also realized that the songs in the series were sung by the main actors! Woah! So a 10 goes to the music as well!
I could literally yap about Ticket to Heaven for hours. I feel so lucky I found this. Who would have thought after this I would feel like maybe God never left me alone.
I don't know who is gonna read all of this, but all I can say is you should watch it. Maybe this review came out as a bit too emotional but I just wanted to let you know how I really feel about it ❤️. Also, this was my first review ever haha. Anyways, this series is a must-watch! And you never know which part of your life it's gonna help.
Overall: 1000000/10
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